Electric railway-signal.



No. 807,707. PATENTED DEC. I9, 1905.

' H. A. AMMANN da A. D. CAMPBELL.

ELECTRIC RAILWAY SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED 00T. 1,1904. BBNEWED 00T. 4. 1905.

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lhcir attorneys UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY ARNOLD AMMANN AND ALBERT DONALD CAMPBELL, OF SPOKANE, l/VASHINGTON.

ELECTRIC RAILWAY-SIGNAL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 19, 1905.

Application led October l, 1904. Renewed October 4, 1905. Serial No. 281,285.

lowing to be a Jfull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention, which relates to electricv railway-signals, is an improvement on the constructions of signals for which we have obtained Letters Patent Nos. 736,345 and 737,053, dated August 18, 1903, and August 25, 1903, respectively.

The nature of thepresent improvements will be readily comprehended, reference being had to the following detailed description and to the accompanying` drawings, illustrating the invention in its preferred form of embodiment, it being understood that various modifications may be made therein without exceeding the scope of the concluding claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view, partly in elevation, of a-n electric railway-signal embodying our invention. Fig. 2 is a detailed view of the swinging plate or pendulum.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, 1 denotes the trolley-wire supported by hangers 2 2, and 3 is the trolley-wheel. Supported by and between the hangers is a casing 4, of galvanized iron orvother suitable material, having a closed top 5, of similar material, and a bottom 6, of wood or thelike, which bottom is supported above the lower ends of the box by an inwardly-projecting flange 7, to which said bottom is bolted or otherwise secured. Pivoted by a pintle 8 to ears 9, depending from the bottom 6, is a swing-plate or pendulum 10, having an upper strap 11 passed around the pintle and forming the hinge, and .a lower wear strap or plate 12. The swing-plate or pendulum is provided centrally in its lower end with an opening 13, whereby said lower end extends below the trolley-wire 1 to prolong the engagement therewith of the trolley-wheel, whereby said swing-plate or pendulum has a relatively long stroke.

Extending through a slot in the bottom 6 and pivoted in said slot by means of a pin 14 is a lever 15, the lower end of which is connected with the swing-plate or pendulum by a chain 16 and a coil-spring 17. Movement of the swing-plate or pendulum is effected by the trolley-wheel, and the coil-spring 17 is employed to relieve the shock of engagement between the swing-plate or pendulum and the trolley-wheel of a swiftly-moving car or train and also to insure movements of the lever of uniform extent regardless ofthe height of the trolley-wheel, it being understood that said height will vary according to the wear on the base of the trolley-wheel groove. The operative movement of the swing-plate or pendulum is in the direction of the arrow, and after such movement the swing-plate or pendulum is retracted to normal vertical position by the action of the coil-spring 17. To insure of the swing-plate or pendulum being positioned vertically after each operative movement, a coil-spring 18 is provided,which spring is connected at its ends, respectively, to the right-hand side of the swing-plate or pendulum and with the under side ofthe bottom 6, as shown.

Supported in the casing above the bottom 6 by means of cross-pieces 19 is a box 20, containing electric signaling mechanism of any desired or preferred construction. The upper end of the lever 15 is connected by a rod 21 with a movable member 22 of the mechanism contained in the box 20, and leading from said mechanism through the bottom of the box and the casing end or side are electric conducting-wires 23 24, forming a metallic multiple series or ground-circuit, as described. The box 20 may be the ordinary signal or call box, and when the member or handle 22 thereof is moved the circuit is closed to operate a local or a distance signal, or both,` dependent upon the requirements.

In operation engagement of the trolleywheel with the swing plate or pendulum causes the latter to swing to the right, and through the medium of the chain 16 and coilspring 17 the lever 15 is rocked on its pivot, and the mechanism in the call-box is in turn operated through the medium of the connecting rod 21. After the trolley wheel has passed the swinging plate or pendulum the latter is restored to its normal position, which position is obtained in the manner and by the means set forth. In the event of the back- TOO ing of the car or ofthe passage of a car in the opposite direction the pendulum is moved to the left without affecting the signaling mechanism.

Obviously the casing may have the requisite dimensions to contain two signaling mechanisms, and two swing-plates or pendulums may be provided to be operated by cars going in opposite directions.

We claim as our inventionl. In an electric railway-signal, the combination with si naling mechanism, of a swingplate or pendulum having means for ncrmally positioning it in the path of a trolleywheel, and an opening in the lower end of the swing-plate or pendulum through which the trolley-wire extends, and a removable wear-plate on the lower end of said swingplate or pendulum.

2. In an electric railway-signal, the combination of a trolley-wire, a casing supported above said wire, electric signal controlling means in said box, a swing-plate or pendulum pivoted to extend into the pathof a trolley-wheel to be engaged and moved thereby, a lever, `a connection between said lever and means, and a connection between the lever and swing-plate or pendulum including a spring.

3. In an electric railway-signal, the combination of a trolley-wire, a casing supported above said wire, electric signal-controlling means in said box, a swing-plate or pendulum pivoted to extend into the path of a trolley-wheel to be engaged and moved thereby, a lever, a connection between said lever and means,l a connection between the lever and swing-plate or pendulum including a spring, and a spring cooperating with the aforesaid s ring for positioning the swing-plate or penulum.

In testimony whereof we a'x our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY ARNOLD AMMANN.

ALBERT DONALD CAMPBELL.

Witnesses: A. W. WITHERsPooN, B. MIDDLEMIss. 

